Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53

The concerto unfolds in three connected movements, the first two joined without a break.

I. Allegro ma non troppo. The soloist enters almost immediately with a bold, searching theme, answered by the orchestra. Listen for the give and take between soloist and orchestra, restless and dramatic, before a more lyrical second theme softens the mood. Rather than a big cadenza-and-return, Dvořák writes a hushed bridge that leads straight into the slow movement.

II. Adagio ma non troppo. A songful, unhurried melody, some of the composer's most tender writing, sung high on the violin over gentle orchestral support. A more agitated middle section briefly darkens the mood before the opening calm returns.

III. Finale: Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo. A dance-like rondo built from Czech folk rhythms, notably the furiant, a fast dance marked by shifting accents. A slower, more lyrical episode partway through offers contrast before the movement drives to a bright, energetic close.

Dvořák wrote this concerto in 1879 at the urging of the violinist and publisher's advisor Joseph Joachim, revising it substantially over the following two years in response to Joachim's suggestions about the solo writing. Despite the extensive collaboration, Joachim never performed the finished work in public. Its premiere was given in Prague in 1883 by the Czech violinist František Ondříček, with Dvořák's countryman Mořic Anger conducting, and Ondříček went on to champion the piece across Europe. Though it never achieved the towering fame of Dvořák's Cello Concerto, it has remained a favorite among violinists and audiences for its warmth, its lyrical slow movement, and its dance-infused finale, which draws directly on Czech folk idioms.